Various Methods of Control Flashcards
Censorship
- Reich Chamber of Culture (22 September 1933) regulated press, radio and theatre etc.
- 10th of May 1933, was the first Burning of The Books Ceremony- 20,000 ‘un-German’ books burned outside the University of Berlin. 33 more would take place across German cities.
- Editors Law of Oct 1933, kept a register of racially pure editors and journalists, excluding both Jews and spouses of Jews, and daily briefings were held on what was to be printed.
- By 1939, 69% of newspapers were owned by Nazis
- all other media was controlled by Joseph Goebbels
- All news agencies were merged into one- German News Agency
Repression and Terror
Terror:
- SS, The Gestapo, SD (intelligence agency within the SS led by Reinhard Heydrich), Denouncement.
Repression:
- Those who did not join the Hitler Youth faced prospect of not getting their school leaving certificate
- Youth were subjected to surveillance, control and political leaders
- Nazis could assign workers and the threat of reassignment to difficult jobs, compliance could be enforced by the ‘block warden’, who monitored support for the regime. They could punish deviance including welfare benefits or reporting an offender to the party.
Propaganda
“Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda”- run by Dr Joseph Goebbels
- 9 million cheap radios were sold by the Reich Radio Chamber and these “People’s Receivers” could only be tuned to the Nazi Radio Station. By 1939, 70% of households owned one and Radio Wardens ensured people were listening to major speeches etc.
- Mass rallies to show Nazi support e.g. annual Nuremberg Rally including Speer’s “Cathedral of Light”
- Films like Leni Riefenstahls ‘Olympia’ and ‘Triumph of the Will” celebrated hitler and reaffirmed antisemitism
- aimed at youth and Classrooms featured Hitler’s portrait and Nazi iconography as well as new curriculum based on Nazi Beliefs and values.
Cult of Personality
- vision for a ‘new Germany’
- Hitler Myth- a genius infallible to mistakes, any errors were blamed on minor Party officials
- Leni Riefenstahls film ‘Triumph of the Will glorified Hitler and as a humanitarian
- Heil hitler was so common it replaced ‘good morning’
